Tuesday 19/03/2024 Marakoopa Cave
Marakoopa Creek Reserve – Mole Creek Karst National Park, lutruwita / TASMANIA
Palawa Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
As today’s forecast was for rain we decided a trip to the local limestone caves would be a good option. After more fabulous platypus watching at the Mole Creek Caravan Park this morning we drove the short distance to the cave. Marakoopa Cave is located in Mole Creek Karst National Park and is a guided cave. Today Ben was leading the tour.
Marakoopa Cave entrance was surrounded by a beautiful rainforest with large ferns and moss-covered rocks. This is a wet cave. Marakoopa is aboriginal for “handsome”.
Formations in Marakoopa Cave
Ben guided our group of 19 through the limestone formations and the glow worms at the end once our eyes were adjusted. We were told about the caves being “discovered” in the early 1900s and open for tours soon afterwards. I asked Ben if there was any evidence of aboriginal use of the caves and he said as a white person he was unwilling to speak for Indigenous people and that I should look up the information online. Strange considering the cave has an indigenous name. I have found a lack of aboriginal information online in relation to early aboriginal history in Tasmania which is why I asked. Before long the tour was over and we had lunch before driving a short distance to the second cave in the area.
The local landscape features, geology, scenic highlights, flora, fauna, indigenous history, white history and other walks in the area (Gemini)
Marakoopa Cave is situated within Mole Creek Karst National Park, a region characterised by a dramatic karst landscape. This landscape is sculpted by the erosive power of water dissolving limestone bedrock over millions of years. Marakoopa Cave itself is a solutional cave, featuring extensive chambers, passages, and underground streams. The cave entrance is nestled amongst a temperate rainforest.
Scenic Highlights
Marakoopa Cave offers a visually stunning subterranean experience. Key highlights include:
Extensive cave formations: The cave is adorned with a variety of speleothems (cave formations) including stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and shawls, all formed from calcite deposits.
Glow worms: Marakoopa Cave boasts one of the largest public displays of glow worms (Arachnocampus tasmaniensis) in Australia. These bioluminescent insects create an ethereal spectacle.
Underground streams: Flowing water continues to shape the cave, with active underground streams present within Marakoopa.
Local Flora
The entrance to Marakoopa Cave is surrounded by a temperate rainforest ecosystem. The specific flora composition can vary depending on microclimates within the rainforest, but some commonly encountered plant species might include:
Sassafras (Cinnamomum oliveri)
Myrtle (Nothofagus cunninghamii)
Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon)
Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum)
Tree Ferns (various Dicksonia species)
Clubmosses (Selaginella uliginosa)
Liverworts (various Marchantia species)
Mosses (various Bryophyte species)
Local Fauna
The cave itself provides limited habitat for fauna due to the lack of light and limited food sources. However, the surrounding rainforest supports a diverse range of Australian animals, including:
Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)
Brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
Various bird species
Indigenous History
Information regarding Aboriginal Australian interaction with Marakoopa Cave is limited. The name “Marakoopa” itself is an Aboriginal word, though its meaning in this context is unclear and requires further investigation by consulting with Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
White History
Marakoopa Cave was discovered by Europeans in the early 1900s and was soon after opened to the public for guided tours.
Other Walks
Mole Creek Karst National Park offers a range of walking tracks catering to different interests and fitness levels. Some options include:
King Solomons Cave tour: Explore another impressive cave system adorned with a variety of speleothems.
Mole Creek Nature Walk: A short loop track through the temperate rainforest alongside Mole Creek.
Limpins Marsh Track: A short track leading to the scenic Limpins Marsh sinkhole.
Upper Forth Falls Track: A more challenging track leading to multiple waterfalls on the Forth River.
A visit to Marakoopa Cave offers a glimpse into the wonders of the subterranean world and highlights the ongoing geological processes that shape Tasmania’s karst landscape.
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